1 Corinthians 15:44

44 When sown, it is an ordinary human body; when raised, it will be a body controlled by the Spirit. If there is an ordinary human body, there is also a body controlled by the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:44 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 15:44

It is sown a natural body
Or an animal one, being generated as animals are, and supported with food as they be, and die at last as they do: see ( Ecclesiastes 3:19-21 ) .

It is raised a spiritual body;
not as to substance, but as to its quality; it will not be changed into a spirit; our Lord's risen body, to which ours will be conformed, was not a spirit, but, as before, consisted of flesh and bones: but the body will then be subject to the spirit and soul of man; it will be employed in spiritual service, for which it will be abundantly fitted and assisted by the Spirit of God; and it will be delighted with spiritual objects; it will be like the angels, those excellent spirits; it will live as spirits do, without natural helps and means, as meat, drink, clothes, sleep, and, as they, will never die:

there is a natural;
or "animal body", such as the first man's was, and those are that descend from him by ordinary generation; and

there is a spiritual body;
such as the body of Christ now is, and as will be the bodies of the risen saints; the phrase is Jewish, (ynxwrh) (Pwgh) , "the spiritual body" ^F25 and the flesh of the righteous, being (Mynxwr Mrvb) , "spiritual flesh" ^F26, are to be met with in their writings.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Nishmath Chayim. fol. 37. 1.
F26 Tzeror Hammor, fol. 9. 4.

1 Corinthians 15:44 In-Context

42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. When the body is "sown," it decays; when it is raised, it cannot decay.

43 When sown, it is without dignity; when raised, it will be beautiful. When sown, it is weak; when raised, it will be strong.

44 When sown, it is an ordinary human body; when raised, it will be a body controlled by the Spirit. If there is an ordinary human body, there is also a body controlled by the Spirit.

45 In fact, the Tanakh says so: Adam, the first man, became a living human being;o but the last "Adam" has become a life-giving Spirit.

46 Note, however, that the body from the Spirit did not come first, but the ordinary human one; the one from the Spirit comes afterwards.